Yankees baseball blog

Its looks like Freddy in the fifth

If you listened to Yankees manager Joe Girardi's words yesterday, it was difficult to believe Freddy Garcia won't win the fifth starter's job.

With the veteran right-hander working a minor league game today because the big league club is off, Girardi was asked if anything Garcia does today will influence the decision.

"I don't necessarily think so, we have a pretty good feel on what Freddy can do," Girardi said of the 34-year-old who won 12 games and worked 157 innings for the White Sox last season. "I said that we had a pretty good idea when he came into camp, just from watching him and seeing plenty of video on him and watching him compete." (Post)

Yanks lead-off experiment with Gardner continues

The Yankees' Leadoff Experiment continued Sunday, with Brett Gardner assuming the lineup's top spot and Derek Jeter slotted in the two-hole, the second time in three games this spring that Gardner has batted first when the two have been in the same game.

Joe Girardi calls flopping the two around "an experiment we're willing to try right now" and said the Yankees will meet about the leadoff spot soon to "talk about it and see what we all think about it and go from there." (News)

A.J. Burnett is no. 2 (rim shot)

The Yankees gave A.J. Burnett a vote of confidence yesterday, naming him the No. 2 starter. Phil Hughes will be the third starter.

Yankees manager  Joe Girardi said that was the plan all along, but he made it official yesterday.

"That's what we brought A.J. here to do, bottom line," Girardi said. "In 2009, he was very, very important for us. He pitched very well for us -- playoffs, World Series, you name it. He struggled last year, but we believe he's going to be back."

Before the decision was announced, Burnett was asked what it would mean to him to get the nod to start in the second game of the season on April 2 against the Tigers.

"It just shows they've seen something out of me this spring," Burnett said. "At the same time, they have faith that that was what I was brought here to do." (Post)

Garcia gets shelled

Somebody was bound to throw a bad game eventually, right?

Freddy Garcia was the first of the four pitchers competing for the two open spots in the Yankees' rotation to get knocked around, as the Twins scored four runs on six hits and two walks in 2-2/3 innings against the righthander Sunday.

Garcia had thrown five scoreless innings over his first two outings, and while Sunday's clunker left him grasping for answers, it didn't discourage him when it comes to his chances of landing one of the two spots.

"I didn't pitch the way I wanted to pitch; there's nothing I can do," Garcia said. "I know I have to pitch good to try to win a spot, but it was one of those days. I have to forget about it, come back tomorrow and try to do my job in my next start - pitch better." (News)

A.J. maintains composure

In this start, A.J. Burnett was far from perfect -- part of the reason he felt he accomplished more in his third exhibition start than his second.

Yes, five days earlier, Burnett had set down all nine Phillies he faced, but pitchers frequently have to make it through outings without their best stuff.

And if there was one hallmark of Burnett's awful 2010 season, it was that when things went bad, they often stayed that way.

So Saturday, when Michael Morse hit a two-run homer with none out in the second inning of the Nationals' 6-5 victory over the Yankees at Space Coast Stadium, it was interesting to see how Burnett would react.

Burnett -- who had not allowed a run in six innings to that point -- reacted just fine, retiring three straight to end the inning and six straight after that. (Newsday)

Nova allows 2 runs vs Jays

Ivan Nova went three innings, allowing two runs and five hits in the Yankees' 10-3 split-squad loss to the Blue Jays in Dunedin. Fla.

Nova said he wasn’t pleased with his fastball command and left too many pitches up. His numbers would have been better if not for a tainted run caused by shortstop Ramiro Pena’s error.

With Joe Girardi making the short trip from Tampa to watch Nova, the pitcher was asked if that made a difference to him.

“I didn’t show nothing today but that didn’t affect me,’’ Nova said. “Mentally, I am strong.’’

Nova is competing with Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Sergio Mitre for two spots in the Yankees rotation.

“All he can do is go out and pitch,’’ Girardi said. “If he does that, he has a shot. But if he tries to pitch and worries about what Bartolo is doing and what Freddy is doing and thinking ‘I have to come up with a new pitch’ that’s not going to do it.’’ (Post)

 

AJ in control

A.J Burnett knows that three perfect innings in a spring training game aren't worth much in the long run, but he'll take them over the alternative.

"I didn't want to go one inning, give up four homers, come out and say, 'It's just my second start,'" Burnett said. "The fact that I was in control, the fact that the last batter I faced, the last five pitches were all down-and-away in the perfect spot, I'm able to repeat easier. My mind is clear. I'm not thinking about this or that; I'm just attacking."

Burnett retired the nine batters he faced in the Yankees' 7-1 win over the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field, throwing 30 of his 45 pitches for strikes. His mechanics were consistent, he said, but more important, he didn't spend any time worrying about them during his outing. (News)

CC sharp vs Tigers

CC Sabathia allowed two hits and struck out two for the Yankees in a 6-2 loss to the Tigers on Monday.

Miguel Cabrera played his first game following his arrest, going 0-for-2 with a walk as the Tigers designated hitter.

Cabrera batted cleanup, his first appearance since his arrest on Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence. He is to be arraigned on March 16. (Post)

Yanks begin to round out rotation

It's a tiny taste but the first one available to manager Joe Girardi when he begins to evaluate the candidates for the fourth and fifth starting jobs today.

Though the Yankees' offseason plan was to have Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte join CC Sabathia, Phil Hughes and A.J. Burnett, they are left with gaping holes in the caboose.

That's where neophyte Ivan Nova, journeymen Sergio Mitre, Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon are competing.

First up is Colon, who drew the assignment simply because he pitched in the Dominican winter league.
Colon, who last pitched in the big leagues in 2008, starts today against the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Post)

Yanks not favored to win division, but there is always pressure

With a payroll of about $205 million, even more cash at their disposal to fix a suspect pitching rotation, and 27 world championship trophies, the Yankees have been called many names.

Underdog isn’t usually one of them.

However, Mark Teixeira painted the Yankees with that brush after checking into George M. Steinbrenner Field yesterday. And general manager Brian Cashman agreed.

“We are the underdogs,” Teixeira declared a day before the first full-squad workout. “No one is picking us, but everyone [here] should be looking to win a championship.”

Teixeira pointed to the Yankees not winning the World Series, playing awful against the Rangers in the ALCS and not winning the AL East as the reasons Boston is the favorite. The Red Sox added Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, while the Yankees were stiffed by Cliff Lee and watched Andy Pettitte retire. Thus, the role of divisional favorite has been handed to the Red Sox. (Post)